Sleaford mill setting for Chinese tourism video

Andy Hubbert

If you are heading to Cogglesford Mill in Sleaford this weekend (March 12), look out for filmmakers who are seeking to raise awareness of the unique attraction worldwide.

Artist and filmmaker John Bangay, who lives in Stamford but previously for many years lived in Billingborough, is including Cogglesford within a collection of scenes of Lincolnshire and other locations to promote the area to potential tourists in China.

Mr Bangay told the Standard that they completed part of the filming in a rowing boat in the River Slea in front of the mill last summer. He said: “We found a rowing boat and filmed that part but the waterwheel has been broken for quite a while and were waiting to film it turning (to link it with a quote from Tennyson’s poem ‘The Miller’s Daughter’ - “the turning of the dripping wheel”).”

The mill will now be back in action for the filming.

He has been to China were other video stories of local landmarks were well received, he says.

“These videos will be seen world-wide, particularly in China where there is a fascination with British history and British charactars - which is why every video has costumed characters and Chinese translations added.”

John’s wife is Chinese and he now lives part of the year in China. The videos will encourage people to explore beyond the well-trodden tourist destinations of the UK.

As owners of the Mill, North Kesteven District Council has been happy to support him with his filming on Sunday. The mill will be open for its milling day at 11am and the filming team aims to be completed before 12noon.

It is thought to be the only Sheriff’s Watermill still in operation and although the present mill was mainly built in the 18 th century, there has been milling on this site for more than 1,000 years.

On milling days you can see flour being produced in the same way it has been more than 200 years ago.

From April 1, the mill will open daily. Hot drinks have been added to the range of flour, local goods, crafts, preserves and souvenirs for sale.